About St. Columba · Paxton, Massachusetts
St. Columba Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving the small town of Paxton, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Worcester. The parish sits on Richards Avenue in this central-Massachusetts community and is named for St. Columba (c. 521–597 AD), the Irish missionary abbot who helped spread Christianity in Scotland and is one of the three patron saints of Ireland. Worship is offered in English, with a Saturday Vigil Mass, two Sunday Masses, and a Monday-through-Thursday weekday Mass. The parish maintains an active religious education program for parish children and welcomes new members through its sacramental and pastoral ministries, currently under the leadership of Fr. Steve.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Columba of Iona (Columcille), Irish abbot and missionary (c. 521–597 AD)
- Rector
- Father Steve
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Columba is a welcoming small-town Catholic parish where parishioners can know one another and the priest personally — Fr. Steve is the direct contact for arranging baptisms, weddings, anointing of the sick, and the religious education of children. With two Sunday Masses, daily weekday Masses (Monday–Thursday), and a regular Saturday confession time, the parish offers the rhythm of a classic Catholic devotional life while being small enough to feel like a spiritual family. The active parish religious education program and accessible pastor make it an inviting place for families looking to plant roots in the Paxton community.
Mass times at St. Columba
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM (before the Vigil Mass)
- By appointment — call the parish office at (508) 755-0408
Adoration times
- Sunday 9:00 AM – 9:50 AM (during Lent)
- Wednesday 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM (during Lent)
About St. Columba Parish
St. Columba is a Roman Catholic parish in Paxton, Massachusetts, part of the Diocese of Worcester. Founded in 1946, it serves the Catholic faithful of Paxton and the surrounding central-Massachusetts communities with a steady rhythm of Masses, the sacraments, and parish religious education. The parish is named for St. Columba (c. 521–597 AD), the Irish missionary abbot who helped bring Christianity to Scotland and is one of the three patron saints of Ireland. The parish invites newcomers to 'meet our Parish Family and consider calling St. Columba your spiritual home.'
Celebrating the Sacraments
St. Columba celebrates the seven sacraments with parishioners through its pastor, Fr. Steve. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the parish office at least one year in advance. Baptisms, Anointing of the Sick, and other pastoral needs are arranged by calling the parish office. Men discerning Holy Orders are directed to the diocesan vocations director, Fr. Donato Infante.
- Holy Matrimony — contact Fr. Steve one year in advance: (508) 755-0408
- Baptism — contact Fr. Steve through the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Fr. Steve through the parish office
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:30 PM and by appointment
- Holy Orders — referral to Fr. Donato Infante, Diocesan Vocations Director ([email protected] / 508-630-4473)
Religious Education
The parish operates a Religious Education Program for its children. Registration for the 2024–2025 academic year is open, with families able to register online through the parish website. The program supports sacramental preparation and ongoing faith formation for parish youth.
- Religious Education Registration 2024–2025 is underway
- Online registration available via the parish website (stcolumbapax.org)
Parish Communications
The parish keeps members informed through a regular Sunday bulletin (accessible via the parish website) and the FlockNotes electronic announcement system. Bulletin submissions are due by Friday at 12:00 PM for inclusion in the following week's bulletin.
- Weekly parish bulletin (available on stcolumbapax.org)
- FlockNotes email announcements
- Bulletin submission deadline: Friday 12:00 PM
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at (508) 755-0408 or by email at [email protected]. The parish church is located at 18 Richards Avenue, Paxton, MA 01612, in the Diocese of Worcester.
- Address: 18 Richards Avenue, Paxton, MA 01612
- Phone: (508) 755-0408
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stcolumbapax.org
- Diocese: Diocese of Worcester